Christine Lahti

Beginning in the late 1970s, acclaimed film, television and stage actress Christine Lahti carved out a niche for herself in an emerging field for Hollywood actresses - roles as professional, independe...
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It’s hard to believe, but this Halloween marked the 20th anniversary of River Phoenix’s death. The actor had yet to reach his peak when he died of a drug overdose outside The Viper Room in Hollywood at only twenty-three years old. Phoenix was often referred to as the new James Dean, and as hyperbolic as that may sound, it was actually very true – Phoenix displayed a truthful and raw intensity in all his roles that projected a maturity beyond his years, which is impressive considering that he had grown up having never seeing a film in his life. His short career inspired a legion of actors and his death allowed actors such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp to have the careers they had. The troubled actor was also heavily involved with environmental organizations: he had famously bought a section of the Amazon rainforest after receiving his first big check, just so that portion of the forest couldn’t be cut down. Sensitive and intelligent, Phoenix was more than just a pretty face – he was a one-of-a-kind performer that brought authenticity to every role he played. (But damn, that face sure was pretty.)
Explorers Ok, so Explorers isn’t exactly award-winning material, but it's Phoenix’s first feature film and is adorably weird. The film is a dorky sci-fi fantasy that has a chubby-faced Phoenix (who looks like the stereotypical image you get when you hear the words “President of the AV Club”) starring alongside a young Ethan Hawke (bonus point of greatness: Phoenix’s character is named Wolfgang). The boys somehow come up with a magic machine out of a Tilt-A-Whirl cart and cruise around different galaxies, so the film is obviously awesome. Though it didn’t fare well in box office sales, the film went on to acquire a cult following.
Stand By Me Truly one of the best coming-of-age films, Stand By Me was only Phoenix’s second feature film. The movie was well-acted by all the leads, but Phoenix showed a maturity beyond his fourteen years. Stand By Me was also when he began his trademark trend of being able to steal the entire movie he was in with just one scene. For the famous scene by the fire in which Phoenix’s character breaks down after sharing his disappointment of a teacher betraying him, director Rob Reiner reportedly told the actor to think of the saddest moment in his life – once the scene was over, Phoenix was still crying uncontrollably. The depth that Phoenix brought to the role was effortlessly translated on the screen and immediately turned him into a star, full on with both critical acclaim and Tiger Beat covers.
Running On Empty A storyline that had similarities with the actor’s own life, Running On Empty had Phoenix starring alongside Judd Hirsch, Christine Lahti, and Phoenix’s then-girlfriend, Martha Plimpton. The film finds Phoenix living as the son of two fugitives on the run from the FBI for an anti-war protest bombing of a napalm lab. The family had to constantly move around and change their identities, harking back to Phoenix’s own nomadic childhood during his family's days in the controversial Children of God cult. The scene of Phoenix’s confession about his identity to Plimpton’s character in the garden was hands-down the best scene in the film, and his performance ended up getting him an Oscar nomination at the ripe young age of seventeen.
Dogfight Dogfight is such an overlooked and underrated film, not only in Phoenix’s filmography, but just in general. The Nancy Savoka–directed flick is set in Vietnam War-era San Francisco and has a deceptively simple storyline: Phoenix plays an eighteen year-old Marine who takes Lili Taylor out on a date the night before he’s shipped off to Vietnam – what Taylor’s character doesn’t know is that Phoenix is taking her to a “dogfight,” a pretty evil game the other Marines play in which the soldiers compete for cash for who can bring the ugliest date. Taylor finds out and leaves, Phoenix follows, and voila – sappy rom-com, right? Except Dogfight somehow manages to be a wonderfully profound movie that avoids stereotypes and predictability, instead illuminating the nature of human relationships. Both Taylor and Phoenix’s performances are brilliant, and their adorably awkward bedroom scenes are so realistic, you’ll be cringing in your seat along with them. Plus, the film gives Musical Bingo some cred by making it spark some serious foreplay, so that’s totally awesome, too.
The Thing Called Love Though it’s definitely not the best film in his catalogue, The Thing Called Love is a great movie just for Phoenix’s crazy chemistry with Samantha Mathis, who he was wooing during filming (spoiler: he succeeded). It also has a charming Dylan McDermott and a young Sandra Bullock, just before she broke through with Speed. The film revolves around country music, but even if country isn’t your thing, the songs are still enjoyable and, making it even better, the actors actually sing their own songs. Phoenix initially wanted to be a musician and had a band called Aleka’s Attic alongside his sister Rain, so getting to see/hear Phoenix’s musical chops is a treat. The film is also Phoenix’s last completed film, and despite the fact that Phoenix was obviously strung out during filming, the charm and complexity he brought out in his character makes the film worth it.
My Own Private Idaho Considered to be Phoenix’s magnum opus, My Own Private Idaho has Gus Van Sant directing in all his weird, ethereal glory. The film is essentially an entanglement of two stories, one of Phoenix on a mission to find his long-lost mother, and the other revolving around Keanu Reeves in a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Henry V. Phoenix plays a narcoleptic street hustler who’s in love with Reeves, his wealthy best friend who is really just playing gay-for-pay to rebel against his father. The film is notable for its Shakespearian dialogues and dreamy sequences symbolizing Phoenix’s character’s narcolepsy, but it’s Phoenix who makes the film the treasure that it is, serving as the heart and soul of the entire movie. The famous campfire scene where Phoenix professes his love to an uncomfortable Reeves was mostly rewritten by Phoenix himself, and the result is one of the most heartbreaking and well-acted scenes in film. My Own Private Idaho is when Phoenix allegedly began using drugs, and the character he played is eerily similar to perceptions of Phoenix – sadly conflicted, passionate and generous, jaded and tired, yet idealistic and innocent.
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There are three types of award show acceptance speeches: Ones that make you laugh, ones that make you cry, and ones that make you cringe and cover your eyes. The Oscars are a little heavier in the "cry" column, but the Golden Globes, everyone's favorite drunk uncle of award shows, typically has a nice mix of all three. True to form, the clips included in this list of the 10 best Golden Globes acceptance speeches will all make you feel something, whether happy, sad, or both.
LAUGH
When Sacha Baron Cohen accepted his 2007 award for Borat, did you expect anything less than an inappropriate, hilarious anecdote about his costar's testicles?
Bette Midler balked at telling the bawdy joke she'd planned when accepting her award for New Female Star, Motion Picture in 1980. "I have to be tasteful, they told me," she said before doing it anyway, complete with hand gesture: "I'll show you a pair of golden globes!"
Solving the age-old problem of acknowledging everyone who deserves to be recognized in a speech, Hugh Laurie wrote the names of all 172 people who deserved to be thanked for his 2006 House win on individual pieces of paper and pulled three at random from his pocket. Congratulations to his hair stylist, script supervisor, and agent!
Mary Louise Parker is a funny lady, as evidenced by her 2004 win for her role on Showtime's dark comedy Weeds. It's also evidenced in her acceptance speech, when she thanks her son for making her boobs look great in her dress. "Janel Maloney just told me she would pay me $1,000 if I thanked my newborn son for my boobs looking so good in this dress. So, get out your checkbook. William Atticus Parker, thank you so much from your mother," she joked.
CRY
If the sight of a gigantic, mustachioed man bawling doesn't make you cry immediately, you will when Ving Rhames calls up Jack Lemmon and dedicates his 1998 award to the acting great.
Perhaps it's the genuine shock on the actor's face, the true joy of his castmates and friends, or the emotional speech: Either way, Chris Colfer's 2011 win for his groundbreaking role on Glee will give you the chills every time you watch.
Although Mo'Nique is known for her comedy, winning for a movie as heavy and emotional as Precious meant a heavy and emotional acceptance speech in 2010. "I celebrate this award with all the Preciouses, with all the Marys. I celebrate this award with every person who's ever been touched. It's now time to tell. And it's okay," she said.
Jamie Foxx's speech after his 2005 win for Ray was more joyful than anything, but the tears began to flow when he thanked his grandmother. "I used to think it was corny when people would say that people were looking down on you. I didn't believe it. But I got a feeling.''
CRINGE
Perhaps the most famous Golden Globes gaffe of all: Minutes passed by after Christine Lahti was announced as the winner of the 1998 TV Drama Actress award. When she finally made it to the stage, she revealed that she was late because she was in the bathroom when her name was called.
National treasure Meryl Streep started off her 2012 acceptance for Iron Lady with a joke directed at controversial host Ricky Gervais before launching a scatterbrained hodge podge of thank yous that included an s-bomb along with a very sweet tribute to her fellow female nominees.
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[PHOTO CREDIT: Vince Bucci/Getty Images]
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The comedy/drama, which was screened at New York's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender film festival NewFest on Saturday (28Jul12), tells the story of a family whose individual members are looking for love.
However, Lahti, 62, struggled to cope with recording the raunchier scenes of the film.
She tells the New York Post, "We did that scene on a dining room table which, I understand, others have done. I tell you, my back was hurting. But I wasn't naked. I've never done that in films, I'm too old to do it now. We filmed it movie style. Post-lovemaking. Like he's bare-chested, and I'm pulling up a (bra) strap."

Sheen joined George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Kevin Bacon, among others, for the benefit launch of 8, a play about the Proposition 8 legislation which overturned laws to allow gay unions in the state.
The stars gathered at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles at lunchtime on Saturday for rehearsals of the play, which recreated the courtroom drama surrounding the controversial legal battle, and then staged it for paying guests.
And passionate Sheen, who wowed as attorney Theodore Olsen onstage, was honoured to be part of the show.
He says, "Finally the public is allowed to hear and see what went on in that courtroom, so that's a revelation and I'm very proud to be a part of that."
Glee star Matthew Morrison and Matt Bomer, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Christine Lahti played the gay couples challenging the Prop 8 legislation, while Pitt played the judge presiding over the trial.
More than 200,000 fans logged on to YouTube.com to watch the show online, and it has now been revealed that over $2 millon (£1.25 million) was raised for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Variety reports that Kurt Russell will reprise his role as a surly sports coach - which he played to perfection in 2004's Miracle - in Freedom Films' high-school football drama Touchback, which begins production this week in Michigan with director Don Handfield, who makes his feature debut.
Joining Russell are indie topliners Brian Presley (Home of the Brave), Christine Lahti (Obsessed), and Melanie Lynsky (Up in the Air). Presley stars as a "down-on-his-luck farmer and volunteer fireman whose promising high school football career was cut short when he was critically injured during a playoff game. He gets the chance to decide if he wants the life he has, or the life that could have been, when he's unexpectedly thrust back to that fateful instant that changed his life forever."
Enhancing Russel's character's authenticity is famed football coordinator Mark Ellis, whose Sports Studio is onboard to direct Touchback's game choreography. Ellis has lent his talents to a number of big-budget sports films, including The Rookie, We Are Marshall, and Invincible.
Russel's last film (that anyone remembers, anyway) is Quentin Tarantino's 2007 Death Proof, where he played the sinister Stuntman Mike. Touchback is the latest in a series of new projects that Russell has lined up recently, including Undying and Waco, with Adrien Brody and Sharon Stone.
Source: Variety

The Breakfast Club director, who was born in the state's capital of Lansing, received the Michigan Filmmaker Award on the opening night of the Traverse City Film Festival, reports the Associated Press.
Past recipients include actress Christine Lahti and Arachnophobia star Jeff Daniels.
Hughes' widow, Nancy, and his sons, James and John III, accepted the dedication in his honour, and expressed their appreciation for "the opportunity to acknowledge how Michigan... helped shape his humour and storytelling."
The 59 year old passed away last year (09) after suffering a heart attack.

Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni will be back on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit when it returns this fall for its 11th season. The news follows on-again, off-again negotiations between the pair and Universal Media Studios, with whom talks had broken down in the spring only to recently heat up. The duo will return for one year with an option on a second year.
Hargitay last season suffered a partially collapsed lung and had reportedly been asking for work flexibility to be written into her contract. With the new deal, she is expected to solidify her position as TV's highest-paid actress while Meloni is one of the top male earners.
Conflicting reports put their new paychecks at either just below or just above $400,000 an episode. The Hollywood Reporter says it is believed that the duo have negotiated a piece of SVU's backend while Variety claims the single point of profit participation in the show they were looking for was not part of the deal.
Hargitay and Meloni have starred on the show since its inception in 1999 and regularly negotiate their contracts together.
In further SVU news, Christine Lahti has signed on to play the assistant district attorney for the new season's first four episodes. Stephanie March will return after that to reprise her role as ADA Alexandra Cabot, according to media reports.
More: http://www.hollywoodwiretap.com/?module=news&amp;action=story&amp;id=37625?3e3ea140
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WHAT IT'S ABOUT?
Derek Charles has a beautiful wife beautiful new son beautiful home and a promotion in a big job but his life is turned inside out when he encounters his attractive temp — as in temptress — assistant Lisa who has designs on him and tries to get him to reciprocate. His resistance only increases her efforts as she becomes the stalker from hell throwing his marriage and career into complete chaos … unless he can stop her fanatical "obsession."
WHO'S IN IT?
As Derek the nice guy whose life spirals out of control after a temp stakes a claim on his affections Idris Elba comes off as passive and confused — no match for either a defiant Beyonce Knowles as his wife or Ali Larter (Heroes) as the psychotic maneater who tries to rock his world with everything this side of boiling bunnies. Both stars get a chance to shine before meeting up in a memorable showdown right out of the Fatal Attraction playbook. Larter is sexy seductive and disturbed all at once perfectly capturing the fragile state of a delusional woman in heat. Knowles who previously showed off her acting chops in musicals like Dreamgirls and Cadillac Records really gets to go for the dramatics in Obsessed — and delivers. She does contribute an end title song appropriately called "Smash Into You " aptly describing what she (and her stunt woman) pull off in style in the film's big climactic scene. Also worth mentioning are Jerry O'Connell as Derek's office buddy and Matthew Humphreys as his efficious gay assistant who likes to spread the office gossip. Christine Lahti however is saddled with a thankless role as a rather clueless detective — this fine actress deserves better.
WHAT'S GOOD?
Those who go in checking their brain at the box office might find this paint-by-numbers scenario crudely entertaining even in its utter predictability. It's well-played if totally over the top but hey isn't that what we want from this stuff?
WHAT'S BAD?
Start with credibility. There isn't any. It takes a full 80 minutes before anyone utters the phrase "restraining order " and the frustration builds while watching a nice innocent guy become such a wuss at the hands of his sexually off-balance temp. Of course if he came clean about the situation and called the police the movie would be over in the first 20 minutes. So suspending belief is a must here. It's interesting to note that considering the casting of Beyonce and blonde goddess Larter as the women at the heart of this triangle those expecting what has been buzzed as a "black Fatal Attraction" will find there is not even a single line referring to the racially mixed nature of the relationships.
HOW TOUGH IS BEYONCE?
Beyonce gets the film's best line in a take-no-prisoners moment when she leaves a message on the nutcase's answering machine: "You think YOU'RE crazy? I'll show you CRAZY. Just try me bitch!"
FAVORITE SCENE:
A well-written hospital scene where Derek gets grilled by a detective and his wife at the same time. This will teach every guy to 'fess up before it all goes bad.
NETFLIX OR MULTIPLEX?
Multiplex. The crowd reaction during the finale is part of the fun. But despite the surprisingly generous PG-13 rating definitely leave the kids with the babysitter.

Dennis Quaid plays Professor Lawrence Wetherhold a brilliant bored and completely self-absorbed widower who may be super-intelligent but still can’t figure out how to deal with a family that includes an independent-minded son (Ashton Holmes) and his eager over-achieving daughter (Ellen Page). As he meanders thru his seemingly miserable life his freeloading adopted brother (Thomas Haden Church) shows up for an unwanted visit making matters even worse. Despite these obstacles in his personal life his only goal seems to be getting his pretentious un-publishable book published and becoming head of the University’s English department. When his own stubborn stupidity brings on a sudden seizure that lands him in the hospital he encounters a pretty doctor (Sarah Jessica Parker) who just happened to be one of his former students. Despite a couple of awkward dinners he suddenly finds himself in love and moving into a new unexpected phase of his life--one with lots of unforeseen complications. It’s nice to see Quaid attempt more character-driven roles as he gets older and for a while his take on this dour professor is quite amusing. But the hopeless arrogance of the guy makes it hard for the audience to have any empathy despite the fact that he obviously loved his wife and still has the capacity to give it another whirl with former student Parker. Perhaps that’s the problem. It’s hard to buy these two as a couple in any way shape or form. Their mutual attraction seems unfathomable and Parker’s underwritten moody doctor is just as difficult to snuggle up to as Quaid’s weary professor. She’s one of those “movie characters” whose motivations constantly change only to keep the plot moving. The best acting belongs to supporting players Church and Page who have some choice scenes together. Church proved in Sideways he is a natural comic talent and his goofy take on the n’er-do-well brother plus pitch-perfect line readings make him the best reason to plunk down 10 bucks for this thing. Page actually shot this picture pre-Juno and there are similarities to her character in both--but as the daughter much older than her years she again proves she’s a prodigious talent the ‘it’ girl of the moment. Christine Lahti a fine actress is completely underused here as a colleague of Quaid’s. Most of her part probably lays somewhere on a cutting room floor. She deserves better. Perhaps in more experienced hands--say Sideways’ Alexander Payne--this material could have worked but under the guidance of first-time feature director Noam Murro it does not snap crackle OR pop. The successful commercials director looks like he hasn’t mastered the language of the big screen shooting his actors particularly Parker in unattractively lit close-ups. Although early scenes setting up Quaid’s character have some life the overall film is uneven in tone and dreary to watch. Setting the film in a drab environment like Pittsburgh doesn’t help but the murky cinematography is unimaginative. It’s easy to see the potential a savvy Oscar-nominated producer like Michael London (Sideways House of Sand and Fog The Visitor) may have seen in acclaimed novelist Mark Poirier’s screenplay about a bunch of smart people making dumb choices. But he’s been let down by a debuting director who just doesn’t have a handle on the situation.

Worked as a singing waitress one summer during college; travelled to Scotland as a member of the Ann Arbor Mime Troupe, then went to London, appearing in a mime production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest"

Won a CableACE Award for Best Actress for her performance in the TNT movie "Crazy from the Heart", directed by husband Thomas Schlamme

Directorial debut, "Lieberman in Love", earned her an Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film; also starred opposite Danny Aiello; film aired on Showtime cable network

Had leading role of a US Senator's daughter nominated to be Surgeon General in the Lifetime adaptation of "An American Daughter" based on Wendy Wasserstein's play

Moved to New York City; supported herself as a waitress by day and performed off-off Broadway by night; even worked as a mime for a while in Central Park, battling an imaginary wind as her roommate honked inexpertly on a clarinet

Cast as Grace McCallister in the WB drama "Jack and Bobby"; received Golden Globe (2004) and SAG (2005) nominations for Best Actress in a Drama Series

Cast in lead role of a female Jewish doctor who survived the Holocaust in the Showtime biopic "Out of the Ashes"

Acted opposite William Hurt in "The Doctor"

First Off-Broadway appearance as the female lead opposite Chris Sarandon in David Mamet's "The Woods" at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Public Theater

Summary

Beginning in the late 1970s, acclaimed film, television and stage actress Christine Lahti carved out a niche for herself in an emerging field for Hollywood actresses - roles as professional, independent career women. Uninterested in wasting her dedication to acting on thinly-written supporting roles as girlfriends and wives, Lahti was in the right place at the right time and gave strong showings in character-driven films like "Whose Life is it Anyway?" (1981), "Swing Shift" (1984) and "Running on Empty" (1988), for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. In between film roles as smart, compassionate doctors, lawyers, and educators, Lahti was a constant television presence with her Golden Globe-winning run on the medical drama "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000) and award-winning telepics like the homeless family chronicle "No Place Like Home" (CBS, 1989). Throughout her career, Lahti regularly revisited her roots as a theater actress, notably in several plays by Wendy Wasserstein, and also branched out to direct episodic TV and films, making her one of the most respected women in Hollywood and one with a palpable commitment to quality storytelling.

Name

Role

Comments

Paul Lahti

Father

of Finnish ancestry (Lahti means "bay of water" and is also the name of a town north of Helsinki)

Elizabeth Lahti

Mother

had six children by Paul Lahti; of Finnish ancestry; died on December 23, 1995 of unreported causes at age 75

Thomas Schlamme

Husband

married on September 4, 1983; father of three children

Emma Schlamme

Daughter

born on August 3, 1993; twin of Joseph

Joseph Schlamme

Son

born on August 3, 1993; twin of Emma

Wilson Schlamme

Son

born on July 5, 1988 in Jackson MI

Education

Name

Neighborhood Studio

University of Michigan

Florida State University

Herbert Berghof Studio

University of Michigan

Notes

For the 1989 CBS movie "No Place Like Home", directed by Lee Grant, Lahti earned Best Actress honors at the Third Annual FIPA (Festival International da Programmes Audiovisuels) in Cannes, France.

"I love to play these crazy, neurotic and vulnerable women."---Christine Lahti to The New York Post, 1980.

"I think the way my career has gone has been absolutely right. It's been slow and steady. Because I'm not a big star, I've been able to take risks."---Christine Lahti quoted in the "The Baby Boomers" by James Robert Parish and Don Stanke, 1992.

Lahti once turned down a plum national TV commercial, rather than have sex . . . with two directors [the price for her big break]: "I should have done it. It would have saved me a lot of time. When I turned him [the casting agent] down he told me, 'You're not that special. You're not that gorgeous. You don't know anybody in the business. You'll never make it any other way. This is the way women have to do it.' It was such an eye-opener for me. So insulting. And it never occurred to me that I wouldn't be taken seriously for my talent. So that day I became a feminist. Since then my whole determination, my whole career has been to gain respect. It was never about fame. Never. I wanted to be respected as an actor, and now that I am, I could use a little fame and fortune."---Christine Lahti to TV Guide, August 19, 1995.

On taking a lackluster "earnest mom" role in "Hideaway" (1995): "At the time, I needed to get back to work. I had just had the twins. I needed to make some money, so I'm glad I did it. But I thought, 'I'm being wasted and I don't want to do that anymore.' I'm at my prime creatively, and suddenly I'm in an industry where I'm supposed to be invisible. Or less valuable. When I feel I'm at the peak. My peak."---Christine Lahti to The Los Angeles Times, November 20, 1995.

"I know there are things about her that people don't like, but I don't care. I just love her. I think she has a great heart; she just makes mistakes. You know, she's human."---Lahti on her "Chicago Hope" character to The New York Times, February 15, 1998.

In a memorable, show-stopping absence that generated considerable publicity, Lahti ended up in the ladies' room at the exact instant she was to accept her 1997 Golden Globe Award as best actress in a drama series for her role as Dr Kathryn Austin on "Chicago Hope". Enjoying the moment when she eventually hit the stage wearing a black Herve Leger gown and wide-screen grin, she grabbed a dinner napkin from Robin Williams and used it nonchalantly to dry her hands.